Correct in Love and Do Not Criticize Others

“Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it. God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?” — James 4:11-12 (GNT)

One of the tools the enemy has been using to cause division in the body of Christ today is criticism. The devil has exploited this to create strife, and sadly, many believers do not realize they are being used to sow discord. They criticize nearly everything happening in the body of Christ—churches, pastors, doctrines, and fellow believers. What’s more, they often do this under the illusion that they are doing the right thing. Some pastors and believers even see this as their calling from God, believing they must correct others by pointing out faults. However, in their quest to set the record straight, they unintentionally cause more harm than good.

This attitude has led many young believers to lose faith in the church and its mission. Worse still, it has made it difficult for unbelievers to embrace the truth, as they perceive a lack of love within the body of Christ. But is this how God wants us to live? Absolutely not.

While God desires a pure and sanctified body of Christ, it will not happen through harsh criticism. Why? Because much of the criticism happening today is not driven by love but by hate, bitterness, and competition. The motives behind such criticism are often rooted in self-righteousness rather than a genuine desire for positive change. This approach does not yield the intended results; instead, it causes more harm.

God’s way of addressing errors in the body of Christ is through correction in love, accompanied by consistent and committed prayer. It is not enough to point out a problem—one must also offer a solution. The real catalyst for transformation is love and prayer. So, I encourage you today to refrain from criticizing others (James 4:11). If you disagree with someone’s actions, approach them directly, correct them in love, and pray for them.

The Bible says: “As the Lord’s servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.” — 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (GNT)

Did you see that? The goal is to bring people closer to God. So, do the needful—correct in love!

Today’s Rhema

If you feel there is a need for change, correct in love but don’t criticize!

Confession for the Day

Father, I am grateful for shining the light of Your Word on my understanding. I choose to correct in love and not criticize others. I declare that as I do this, men and women are restored. In Jesus’ name, Amen!